The Somme: What is happening in your area?
• BELFAST:
Ballymacarrett No 6 District parade - Around 50 lodges and up to 40 bands will leave Templemore Avenue at 7.30pm.
West Belfast Orange Hall - A ‘July 1’ project will mark both the Somme and the Battle of the Boyne and opening of the tower which now houses examples of both a Williamite soldier and a World War One soldier in period costumes.
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Hide AdWoodvale Park - A service to dedicate a new memorial to the fallen took place this morning. It included local BB and Scouts blowing ‘thunderer whistles’ at 7.28am; the exact time the 36th Ulster Division went ‘over the top’ at the Somme.
Orangemen in east Belfast are to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with a special dawn anniversary commemoration.
Orange Order HQ - This morning at 7.30am, senior members of the Order will join brethren from Cregagh LOL 1588 (former by soldiers who fought in WWI) in a remembrance parade from Schomberg House to the war memorial in Picard Avenue.
Cregagh Cricket Club - At 12 noon tomorrow at Cregagh Cricket Club in east Belfast a period of silence will be observed before a home match against Instonians. A piper will play, and players will be led out accompanied by a minister and members of the Boys’ Brigade, in recognition of the many club members who perished in the war. Attendance is free.
• CO DOWN:
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Hide AdThere will be a screening of the film ‘War Horse’ at Portico in Portaferry tonight at 8pm. Tickets cost £5 at the door.
A veterans’ parade is taking place at Bangor Castle and Bangor town centre from 2pm tomorrow, while on Sunday a Salvation Army brass band will be performing in the town’s Ward Park from 3pm - 5pm.
Guided walking tours from the Somme Museum to Helen’s Tower and back are available tomorrow and Sunday at 10am and 2pm costing £3. Further information from www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/events/remembering-the-somme
The ‘One Man’s Road to the Somme’ will be running at Bangor’s North Down Museum until July 14.
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Hide AdIn Dromore, a church service is being held at Garvaghy Church of Ireland tomorrow at 3.30pm to mark the Somme centenary. All men attending are asked to wear flat caps in keeping with the centenary theme.
• CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS:
A number of parades are taking place this morning and tonight across the borough.
Ballymoney - Royal British Legion (RBL) parade from North Road at 6.30pm to Meetinghouse Street for service followed by a return parade at 8.15pm. Glebeside Community Association will assemble at Market Street car park in Ballymoney at 6.30am and make its way to Alexandra Avenue for an arch dedication returning at 7.30am.
Cloughmills District LOL from the Orange hall at 7.30pm followed by a short service at 8pm and then parade to the field.
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Hide AdThe Bushmills Branch of the RBL will assemble at the war memorial at 6.45am for service finishing at 7.45am.
Killowen LOL will assemble at the Orange hall in Coleraine at 6.50pm and make its way through the town to the Diamond for a service returning at 8.45pm, while the Coleraine Branch of the RBL will assemble at Beresford Road at 10.15pm and parade to the town hall for a candlelit vigil and short service before returning at 11.30pm.
The Portstewart RBL will assemble at 10.45am at the war memorial for a short service finishing at 11.30am.
Ballycastle RBL will assemble at the war memorial on Quay Road at 7am for service finishing at 8.30am.
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Hide AdStranocum LOL will assemble from 7.45pm at the Orange hall and parade to the war memorial for service returning 8.45pm.
Garvagh District LOL will assemble at 7pm at Kurin Road and make its way to the war memorial for wreath laying and a short service before continuing on to the field. The return parade will start at 9pm.